Core winding apparatus



8- 1945 sTASTNEY CORE WINDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l -jilllllillll I? u n "u 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. STASTNEY CORE WINDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1944 Aug. 14, 1945.

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Sheets-Sheet s IITIIIII J L. STASTNEY CORE WINDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1944 4514;113:175 Fill! Aug. 14, 1945.

W ym Patented Aug. 14, 1945 2,382,451 cons wmnruo mourns Ladislav Stastney, Cicero,

11L, asslgnor to Western meotric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation oi New York Application August 8, 1d, Serial No. 548,528

'1 Claims. (Cl. 242-4) This invention relates to core winding apparatus and more particularly to means for supporting a core during the winding thereof.

One type of core to be wound, and to the supporting of which the features of this invention 5 are particularly applicable, may comprise "flat relatively thin insulator cards of different lengths for use in potentiometer-s, some types of which use cards 30" to 60" in length. In order to prevent undue flexing or sagging oi the card, which results in inaccurate wins thereon, it is desirable to constantly support the card at spaced points throughout its length and without interruption to the winding operation.

An object of the present invention is the provision, in a core winding apparatus, of practicable and emcient means for constantly supporting a core during the winding thereof.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated herein as applied to an insulator card winding apparatus of the type disclosed in application of Frank Martindell, Serial No. 495,912, filed July 23, 1943, now Patent No. 2,360,960, issued October 24, 1944, wherein a winding mechanism mounted on a carriage is advanced along the card, during which resistance wire is drawn from a spool ring or supply reel of the mechanism and laid with a high degree of accuracy on the card. Attached to the carriage is a cam which engages rollers on successive card supporting units arranged at spaced points along the card. The cam, on engaging the roller, applies a multiplied movement to a blade by means of interconnecting gear mechanism, so as to rapidly withdraw the blade which supports Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-4 ofFig.3: and r Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 6-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings. particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, one embodiment of this invention is shown applied, for example, to a winding apparatus, shown fragmentarily, of the type disclosed in the hereinbefore-referred-to allowed patent application. In the following descriptiomonly such parts of the winding apparatus will be referred to which are necessary to a full understanding of the features of the present invention as applied thereto. For a more detailed illustration and description of such a winding apparatus and its operation, reference may be had to the store-mentioned patent application. Briefly, the referred-to winding apparatus includes a lathe bed it, which may be mounted upon suitable standards lt-id, and which is provided, upon its upper surface, with ways l'l-i'l in registry with cooperating grooves IB-l8 (Fig. 3)

formed in the underside of a carriage i8, which is thus slidably mounted on the lathe bed l5. Power for driving the apparatus may be supplied from a suitable motor (not shown), which drives a belt 26 (Fig. l) passing over a pulley 22. The pulley 22 is, in turn, suitably attached to a reduced portion 33 of a splined shaft 24 journalled in bearings 25 and 25, the bearing 25 being mounted upon the upper surface of the lathe bed it and the bearing 26 being mounted in the right hand end (Fig. l) of a gear reducer unit 21, which i is, in turn, mounted upon the upper surface of the lathe bed it. Through suitable gearing in the card and, thereafter, permitting it to again the gear reducer unit 21, the shaft 24 transmits advanceby spring action to support the card as the winding mechanism approaches and passes the particular card supporting unit.

Other objects and advantages of this invention 40 will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a winding apparatus embodying the features of the invention, a portion being broken away to conserve space:

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the card supporting units, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the card supporting blade being shown in supporting relation with a card;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the card supporting blade in a retracted position;

power to drive a feed screw 28, the left end of which extends into the unit 21 and the right end of which is iournalled in a bearing 28 mounted on the lathe bed l5.

' Fixed to the upper surface of the bearing 25 and the gear reducer unit 21 are a pair of clamp-' ing jaws 35 and 38, respectively, having hinged on them cooperating clamping jaws 31 and 38, respectively. The jaws 31 and II have levers 39 and 40, respectively, pivoted to them and each of the levers is provided with camming portions 4| and 42, respectively, projecting eccentrically of the pivot point of the lever to engage the upper surfaces of the clamping members 35' and 38, respectively, and force the inwardly'extending portions of the clamping jaws 31 and 38 toward the inwardly extending portions 'of the clamping jaws 3i and 36. respectively. These cooperating clamping jaws are provided for clamping an insulator card 43, in position to have the windings of a resistance wire 44- wound upon it. The card 43, with the resistance wire wound upon it, is adapted to serve as the resistance element in a potentiometer which must be highly accurate in its operation and, accordingly, the insulators or cards 43 have a predetermined uniform thickness. but their width may be varied to follow a predetermined contour, whereby the amount of resistance per inch of card may vary at a predetermined rate, not necessarily constant. In the drawings, a card of relatively great length compared to its width, which gradually tapers from one end of its wound portion to the other end, is shown, but it will be understood that the apparatus is capable of winding convolutions of resistance wire 44 on a card 43 of any desired contour and of varying lengths within the limits of the apparatus.

Mounted upon the carriage I9 is a support bracket 5|, which serves to support a plate 52 of a winding head or mechanism, indicated in general at 53. The winding head 53 includes a ring gear 54, which acts as a take-off ring for applying the resistance wire 44 to the card 43 from a supply reel or spool ring 55. An annular internally grooved pinion (not shown) meshes with the ring gear 54 and is journalled in a bearing block (not shown) attached to the plate 52. The grooved pinion receives the splines of the splined shaft 24 and thus the pinion will transmit motion from the shaft 24 to the ring gear 54, but may slide alon the shaft when the carriage [9 moves the plate 52 of the winding head 53 longitudinally of the shaft. The carriage it has extending downwardly from it a bracket 58, on which there is mounted a feed nut 53, which threadedly engages the feed screw 18 driven from the speed reducer unit 21. Any suitable type of feed nut 59 may be provided, as

is usual in similar mechanisms, whereby, after the feed screw 28 has fed the carriage i9 from one end of the lathe bed l5 to the other, the feed nut 53 may be released from the feed screw 28 to permit the carriage it to be returned to its starting position. No details of this mechanism have been shown since numerous devices would function in this capacity.

It will be understood that the card 43, which extends through an aperture 50 in the plate 52, is suitably supported therein in all directions by guiding means carried on the winding head 53, as the head moves longitudinally thereof. Further details of this card guiding means, as well as means provided for guiding the wire 44 drawn from the spool ring 55 to the card 43 on which it is Wr pped during the rotation of the ring gear 54, and other details of the winding head 53 may be had by reference to the patent application hereinbefore mentioned.

The previously mentioned supporting units for the insulator or resistance cord 43 are indicated in general at 65. Three of the units 55 are illustrated in the present disclosure as applied to a winding apparatus of the type referred to and since the units are all identical in structure, the following detailed description applies to each of them. Each of the units includes a supporting bracket it fixed to the lathe bed ii at its right side (Fig. 3), the units being arranged at suitably spaced points to support the particular type and length of card 43 being wound. Secured to the upper face of the bracket 55 are two spaced standards 81 and 53 having formed in their inner opposed faces roller tracks 39, which are arranged to provide upper and lower pairs of aligned tracks.

A lower carriage l2 equipped with rollers 13, which ride upon the lower tracks 33, supports a bearing 14 (Fig. 5) for a shaft 15. The bearing 14 extends freely into a slot l3 formed in the standard 33 and the shaft 15, which extends at its outer end from the standard, has fixed thereto a pinion 1a, which meshes with a stationary gear rack bar secured to the standard 33. Fixed to the inner end of the shaft 15 is a gear 3|, which meshes with a gear rack bar 32, depending from an upper carriage 83 equipped with rollers 33, which ride upon the upper tracks 33. the lower carria e I: having a slot 31 for the movement of the gear 3i.

Attached to the forward end of the upper carriage 33, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, or its left end.

' as viewed in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, is a supporting plate 88 for the card 43, the plate having a sloping outer end 83 for engaging and riding under the lower face of the card or the convolutions of wire thereon when the plate is projected into supporting relation therewith from its actuated position (Fig. 4) to its advanced position (Figs. 3 and 6) in a manner to be described hereinafter. The lower carriage 12 carries a cam roller 80 upon its upper face adjacent its forward end. which lies in the path of a cam plate 83 having inclined cam faces 84 and 95 at opposite ends interconnected by a rectilinear face it, the cam plate being suitably fixed to the plate 53 carried by and movable with the carriage l9. upon which the winding head 53 is supported. Carried by and depending from the carriage l2 (Figs. 3 and 4) is a pin 31, to which is attached one end of a tension spring 83 having its opposite end secured to the bracket 55. The spring 38 normally acts to advance the carriage 12 to its operative position wherein the plate 33 is in supporting relation with the card 43. An adjustable screw llii carried by the pin 31 and engaging an outer end face of the bracket 35 limits the advance movement of the carriage. II. The carriage I2, at its left end, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, is so shaped. as indicated at iii, that in its operative advanced position (Fig. 3) it serves as an intermediate support for the splined shaft 14 giipported at opposite ends in the bearings 25 and In the operation of the disclosed type of winding apparatus equipped with the card supporting units 85, it will be understood that the carriage I 8, supporting the winding head 53, will initially be in its extreme left-hand position (Figs. 1 and 2), in which starting position an adjustable abutment screw I02 (Fig. 1) supported from the lathe bed I! engages a vertical end face of the carriage, although, as shown in the drawings, a partial winding of the card 43 has taken place and, therefore, the winding head is in an intermediate position.

I After a card or insulator 43 has been clamped between the members 35 and 38 and 35 and 31 by manipulating the handles 40 and 33 after properly inserting the card through supporting means provided on the winding head 53 and described in the aforementioned patent application, the end of the resistance wire 44 may then be attached to the card 43, for example, by sticking it to the card by means of a piece of adhesive tape I33 and the motor (not shown) for driving the belt 23 may then be set in motion and the winding of the wire 44 on the card 43 will take place through the combined rotation and advance of the winding'head 53 from its extreme left-hand starting position until the desired number of turns of wire is applied to the card.

In the continued advance of the winding head 53 from its left hand starting position until-the card 43 has been wound, it will approach and pass the several card supporting units 65 in succession. Each unit, in turn, will be actuated to retract the card supporting plate 88 from supporting relation with the card 43, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and also in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the right and left hand units 85 arealso-in their advanced supporting relation with the card. The retractedfposition of the plate 88 is shown in Fig. 4 and also in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein theintermediate unit 88 is in its retracted position.

In the operation of each of the units 88 and as the continually advancing winding head"53 approaches, the cam face 94 of the plate 93, moving with the winding head, engages the roller 90 carried on the lower carriage l2 and is moved upwardly. as viewed in Fig. 2, or to the right in Fig. 3, until it rides idly upon the rectilinear face 98 of the cam plate 93. The carriage 12 is thus similarly moved and the pinion l9 joumalled thereon and meshing with the stationary gear rack bar 80 is rotated clockwise, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. This motion of the pinion I9 is transmitted through the shaft I5 to the gear 8| and since the gear is several times greater in diameter than the pinion, the peripheral speed of the gear is multiplied. ince the gear 8| meshes with the gear rack ba 82 on the upper carriage 83, which carries the card supporting plate 88, the latter is rapidly withdrawn from supporting relation with the card 43, the arrangement being such that the plate 88 remains in card supporting position as long as possible during the approach of the winding head 53 and then in timed relation thereto is rapidly withdrawn. The plate 88 is held in its withdrawn position as long as the roller 88 is in engagement with the rectilinear face 96 of the continually advancing cam plate 93. Upon the roller 90 riding onto the inclined cam face 85 opposite to the cam face 94, the spring 98, which was tensioned during the withdrawal of the plate 88 from the card 43, acts to advance the carriage 12 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, and through the cooperating rack and gear mechanism interconnecting the carriage I! with the carriage 83, the card supporting plate 88 is rapidly advanced in a similar direction, but at a multiplied rate of movement into supporting relation with the card 43 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

When the card 43 has been wound with the resistance wire 44 in the apparatus and the desired number of turns of wire applied to the card, the end of the wire may be attached to the card in any suitable manner and, upon releasing the clamping jaws 31 and 38, the completed resistance card may be removed from the apparatus. Manipulation of the feed screw nut 59 will permit the restoring of the carriage I9 to its left-hand starting position, abutting the screw I82, as previously described, and after reengaging the feed nut with the feed screw 28, another resistance card 43 may be mounted in position and wound in the manner above described. In the restoring oi the carriage l9 to its starting position, it will be understood that the card supporting units 85 will be idly actuated in succession as the cam plate 93 moves thereby.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for winding convolutions of strand on a core, means for positioning and holding a core at opposite ends, a strand winding mechanism movable longitudinally of the core for applying convolutions of strand thereon, at least one support movable laterally of the core for supporting the core'between itsends, and means-for operating said supportcontrolledby the movement of said winding mechanism longitudinally of the core for eflecting a withdrawal of and then an advancement of said support tosupporting relation with the core in timed relation to the approach and passing of the windingmechanism. 2. In an apparatus for helically winding. a strand on a core, means for fixedly supporting the core at opposite ends, means movable longi- \tudinally of the core for efl'ecting a withdrawal of and then an advancement of said support to supporting relation with the core in timed relation to the approach and passing of the winding means.

3. In an apparatus for winding convolutions of strand. on a core, means for positioning and holding a core at opposite ends, a strand winding mechanism movable longitudinally of the core for applying convolutions of strand thereon, a plurality 01 supports movable laterally or the core for supporting the core at spaced points between its ends, individual means operatively associated with each of said supports controlled by the movement of said winding mechanism longitudinally of the core for eflecting in succession a withdrawal of and then an advancement of each of said supports to supporting relation with the core in timed relation to the approach and passing of the winding mechanism.

4. In an apparatus for winding convolutions of strand on a core, means for positioning and holding a core at opposite ends, a. strand winding mechanism movable longitudinally of the core for applying convolutions of strand thereon, at least one support movable laterally of the core for supporting the core between its ends, means for operating said support, and an actuator for said support operating means movable with said winding mechanism and operatively engageable with said support operating means in the movement of said winding mechanism longitudinally of the core for effecting a withdrawal of and then an advancement of said support to supporting relation with the core in timed relation to the approach and passing of the winding mechanism.

5. In an apparatus for winding convolutions of strand on a core, means for positioning and holding a core at opposite ends, a strand winding mechanism movable longitudinally of the core for applying convolutions of strand thereon, at least one reciprocably mounted support movable laterally of the core for supporting the core between its ends, a rack and gear mechanism operatively connected to said support for operating the same, and means movable with said wind ing mechanism for causing actuation of said rack and gear mechanism during the movement of said winding mechanism longitudinally of the core for effecting a withdrawal of and then an advancement of said support to supporting relation with the core in timed relation to the approach and passing of the winding mechanism.

6. In an apparatus for winding convolutions of strand on a core, means for positioning and holding a core at opposite ends, a strand windin mechanism movable longitudinally of the core for applying convolutions of strand thereon, at least one reciprocably mounted support movable laterally oi the core for supporting the core between its ends, a reciprocatory gear rack connected to said support, a gear and pinion assemblage reciprocabiy mounted for movement laterally oi the core, saidgear meshing with said gear rack. a stationary gear rack meshing with said pinion, a spring operatively associated with said gear and pinion assemblage for constantly urging the same in one direction, and means movable with said winding mechanism for causing reciprocatory movement oi said gear and pinion assemblage in an opposite direction during the movement of said winding mechanism longitudinally oi the core for eflecting a withdrawal of and then an advancement of said support to supporting relation with the core in timed relation to the approach and passing of the winding mechanism.

7. In an apparatus for helically: winding a strand on a core, means for fixedly supporting the core at opposite ends, means movable longitudinally of the core for helically winding a strand thereon, a plurality of supports movable laterally of the core for supporting the core at spaced points between its ends. individual means for operating each ol said supports comprising a reciprocatory gearrack eonnectedtosaidsupport, a gear and pinion assemblage reciproeablv mounted for movement laterally oi the come, the diameter of said gearbeing several times that of said pinion and meshing with said gear rack, a stationary gear rack meshing with said pinion, a spring operatively associated with said gear and pinion assemblage tor constantly urging the sameincnedirection. acamioilowercarriedby said gear and pinion assemblage, and a cam member carried by said winding means arranged in the path of said cam follower and engageable therewith for causing in succession a recipro catory movement of each or said gear and pinion assemblages in an opposite direction during the movement oi. said winding means longitudinally oi the core for eiiecting a rapid withdrawal of and then a rapid advancement of each 0! said supports in supporting relation with the core in timed relation to the approach and passing oi the winding means.

' LADISLAV BTAB'INEY. 

